A man from Mumbai fell prey to a scam, losing Rs 61,000 after his date which went wrong at The Godfather Club in Andheri West. This incident has come to light on a wider scheme targeting men through dating apps and upscale restaurants, leaving them financially exploited and humiliated. The scam typically begins with a dating app like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, or OkCupid, leading to a costly meet-up that turns into a financial trap.
Activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj highlighted this alleged scam on her social media handle X. She stated that men connect with women on these dating apps, who quickly suggest meeting in person. The meetings are usually arranged at luxurious venues like 'The Godfather Club.
' Once the women order expensive items, often not listed on the menu, such as premium liquor or hookah. She leaves abruptly, citing an emergency, leaving the men to cover the exorbitant bill, as per the allegations. 🚨 MUMBAI DATING SCAM EXPOSE 🚨 THE GODFATHER CLUB ANDHERI WEST ◾BRAZEN SCAMMING EVERYDAY ◾12 victims in touch ◾Trap laid through Tinder, Bumble ◾Bill amounts 23K- 61K ◾3 men trapped by same girl @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice @mymalishka @CMOMaharashtra @zomato pic.
twitter.com/qGOacFCE9f — Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 23, 2024 Date 'Scam' Cases: Victims Coerced To Pay Exorbitant Bills The amounts involved are substantial, with bills reported between Rs 23,000 and Rs 61,000. Photos of receipts shared by Activist Bhardwaj underscored the high costs.
She stated that men who resist paying are reportedly threatened by the staff or bouncers of the club, compelling them to pay out of fear and embarrassment. MODUS OPERANDI : ◾Dating app connect ◾Push for quick meet ◾Meeting place Pizza Express or Metro ◾Then insists Godfather ◾Orders drink, hookah, fireshot ◾Guy isn't shown menu card ◾Bill in thousands within hour ◾She absconds ◾Bouncers corner guy to beat if not paid pic.twitter.
com/FhKP26yVUc — Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 23, 2024 Bhardwaj's post added that 'The Godfather Club' isn't the only venue involved. She hinted at a larger network of nightclubs in Mumbai using public relations staff who hire women to lure men into these expensive and intimidating situations. Similar scams have also been reported in other major cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
In a similar incident reported in June where a civil service aspirant in Delhi was scammed during a date, ending up with a shocking bill of Rs 1.2 lakh at a well-known venue in the city. ALSO READ | Delhi IAS Aspirant Loses Rs 1.
20 Lakh In Café Con Amid Growing Trend In Dating Scams, Concerns Over AI Misuse.
